10. social, ethical, moral considerations and the 6 R's Flashcards
What is ergonomics?
The study of the relationship between people and the things they do, the objects they use and their environment.
What is anthropometrics?
The study of body measurements
What is a product designed with ergonomics in mind more likely to be?
It is more likely to be easier and more straightforward to use
What does the need for more raw materials cause?
A wide range of issues: such as
- deforestation
- mining and drilling
- carbon footprint
What is the best way of combating CO2 emissions?
using the 6Rs
What are the 6Rs?
- Repair
- Reuse
- Recycle
- Rethink
- Reduce
- Refuse
What is repair?
To fix a broken product
What is reuse?
To use a product again rather than replacing with a new one
What is recycle?
To break down and process so a new material is produced
What is rethink?
To change the design of a product to be more environmentally friendly
What is reduce?
To make decisions that decrease the amount of waste produced
What is refuse?
To avoid using a product to save on waste
If products or materials have travelled a long way, what do they have that is larger?
a larger carbon footprint
How do some companies try to manage carbon emissions?
- planting trees to absorb the CO2
- buying products locally to avoid CO2 emissions
- powering their facilities using renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint
What are ethical issues?
Relating to right and wrong, eg ethical companies are often ones that act in a responsible way.
What is fair trade?
Trade in which fair prices are paid to the farmers and workers who create products.
What are the minimum standards for the pay and conditions of workers?
- workers are paid a fair wage
- their conditions are monitored and kept safe
- the use of safety equipment like goggles and guards is encouraged
- toxic chemicals that could harm staff are changed
- the use of sweatshops and child labour is banned
How do you consider the social issues of a product?
Will the product bring harm to the people producing it or using it?
How do you consider the cultural issues of a product?
Will the product cause offence? Is it accessible to everyone?
How do you consider the economic issues of a product?
Is the product affordable for the target market the product is designed for?
What are the 6 R’s used for by designers?
they are used to reduce the environmental impact of products
What is primary recycling?
reusing products multiple times for the same purpose
What is secondary recycling?
reusing a product in a different way from the one it was designed for
What is tertiary recycling?
reprocessing of the material, and in many cases involves chemicals and/or heat to recover the recycled materials
What do designers have a responsibility to do with the social factors?
They have a responsibility to consider these factors when designing
